How many hours of sleep you need to look '10 years younger' and stave off premature ageing

An expert weighed in on the importance of sleep for anti-ageing

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Anna Barry

By Anna Barry


Published: 19/02/2025

- 20:00

"A lack of sleep causes inflammation and swelling, leading to puffy or dark under-eyes," an expert told GB News

The pursuit of looking younger is one that many women share, but forking out lots of money is not necessary to achieve this.

From makeup techniques that lift the face to avoiding hair colours that wash you out, the possibilities are endless.


According to neuroscientist and sleep expert Dr Chelsie Rohrscheib (PhD) from sleep disorder diagnostics company Wesper, getting the right amount of shut-eye can help a woman shave years off her appearance.

This free hack has numerous benefits including banishing under-eye bags, reducing inflammation and maintaining the skin's elasticity.

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'Ensure you get seven to nine hours of good quality sleep each night'

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Answering the question, 'How can women look 10 years younger?', Dr Rohrscheib told GB News: "Ensuring you get seven to nine hours of good quality sleep each night is one of the best ways to maintain a youthful appearance.

"Sleep accomplishes many biological functions that are required to maintain health and wellbeing."

The expert revealed that not getting enough sleep can negatively impact your appearance.

"A lack of sleep causes inflammation and swelling, leading to puffy or dark under eyes," she warned. "It also affects the quality and elasticity of our skin because sleep promotes blood flow and collagen production.

"Chronically poor sleep can lead to premature skin ageing, including fine lines and wrinkles, a dull or dry appearance and discolouration."

For the "best" anti-ageing results, the sleep guru told women to "focus on getting seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep" every night.

She also advised them to ensure they are breathing through their nose rather than their mouth. Mouth breathing can affect sleep quality and contribute to snoring.

While occasional mouth breathing at night - for example due to a cold - may not be a huge cause for concern, chronic mouth breathing can lead to health complications such as cavities, gum disease and loss of tooth enamel, as warned by the Sleep Foundation.

Dr Rohrscheib concluded: "If you struggle with chronically poor sleep quality or never feel rested, see your GP about testing for sleep disorders like insomnia."

Getting a good night's sleep can often be credited to an effective winding-down strategy. A second sleep expert revealed what to do an hour before bed for the "best night routine".

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Sleep affects the 'quality and elasticity' of our skin

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Cosmetic surgeon and dermatologist, Dr Jason Emer, agreed that seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night is ideal for a youthful appearance.

He added that healthy eating is also key to a radiant complexion, stating: "A diet rich in protein, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats provides the essential nutrients your skin needs to thrive.

"Limit alcohol and caffeine as these can dehydrate the skin, leading to a dull, tired complexion and premature ageing."

Dr Emer also spoke to GB News about the three "powerhouse" ingredients that are crucial for younger skin.